Death of Ozzy Osbourne: This is how the rock world mourns around him

The world of pop and rock mourns the loss of Ozzy Osbourne. The legendary British Heavy Metal singer and reality TV star died on Tuesday at the age of 76, as his family announced.

Black-Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi wrote in the short message service X: “I just can’t believe it!” It was such a heartbreaking news that he lacked the words, said the 77-year-old. He and the other Black Sabbath members had lost their brother.

Elton John, 78, praised Osbourne as a “real friend and gigantic pioneer, who secured his place in the Pantheon of the Rock gods”. The news made him very sad, wrote Elton John and posted a photo that shows the two stars side by side.

Rod Stewart, 80 posted a winking message. “Bye, bye ozzy, sleep well my friend. We’ll see you up there – rather later than before.”

The Rolling-Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood wrote in the short message service X: “I am so sad about the news of the death of Ozzy Osbournes.” The concert in Birmingham was a wonderful farewell to the singer a few weeks ago.

Queen guitarist Brian May, 78, described the appearance as “glorious way to say goodbye”. The world will “miss Ozzy’s unique presence and fearless talent”.

Gene Simmons, bassist of the band Kiss, wrote on about Osbourne: “He was a giant. Admired and loved by millions of fans worldwide. Our prayers and compassion apply to the Osborne family.”

Just a few weeks ago, Osbourne, who had Parkinson, had given a acclaimed farewell concert in his hometown Birmingham in the Villa Park stadium. He did it while sitting and could only sing a few hits.

Ex-van-necker Sammy Hagar, 77, who also stood on stage at the concert, wrote: “Wow! That makes him a category in itself. If this is not evidence of dedication and loyalty to his fans. Nobody will imitate him!”

Metallica, who performed with Osbourne at his farewell concert in Villa Park, posted an old photo with Osbourne on X with a broken heart.

In a statement by his family it was said: “With more grief than expressing words, we have to say that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne died this morning. He was surrounded by his family and love”. The family asked to respect privacy.

Ex-footballer David Beckham wrote on Instagram: “So sad to see Ozzy from us. Thank you for talking to us.”

Osbourne achieved international fame in the 1970s as an energetic front man of Black Sabbath. The influential heavy metal band was founded in Birmingham in 1968. Osbourne was born there in a working -class district on December 3, 1948.

With their dark, heavy sound, the hard guitar riffs and the cynical texts, Black Sabbath became pioneers of the genre. Her most famous songs include “Paranoid”, “Iron Man” and “War Pigs”.

Osbournes striking, nasal voice was the formative element of music next to the dark guitar sound by Tony Iommi. In addition to the rather introverted lead guitarist and the almost stoic bassist Geezer Geezer, the showman acted on stage like an insane, jumped around on stage and clapped his hands wildly. The band fired him in 1979 because of drug and alcohol problems.

With the help of his manager Sharon Arden, whom he later married, Osbourne started a solo career. With hits like “Crazy Train”, “Mr. Crowley” or “I Don’t Know”, his debut album “Blizzard of Ozz” (1980) became a commercial success. Overall, the notorious rock star is said to have sold around 100 million records.

His wild appearance, the game with the provocation and with horror elements delighted the fans, but screamed conservative and religious groups, especially in the USA.

Again and again the musician caused scandals. At a concert he bent his head off a bat that a viewer had become on stage because he thought it was a rubber animal. Again and again he was accused of being a devil worshiper, but Osbourne always rejected it, with black magic he had nothing to do with.

He is primarily known to a younger audience as an eccentric family of the award-winning documentary soap “The Osbournes”. In 2002, the world was able to experience his marriage and the crazy life with the no less dazzling children Kelly and Jack up close when the Osbournes could be filmed for MTV day and night. That also helped his musical career.

He teamed up again several times with Black Sabbath. In 2013, the band shot back to the top of the charts with the comeback plate “13” before saying goodbye to their fans with their “The End Tour” in 2016 and 2017. Shortly afterwards, Ozzy Osbourne started his own farewell tour as a solo artist, which he had to stop for health reasons.

In recent years, the legendary front man, who was called John Michael Osbourne, has had to deal with numerous health problems. In 2019 Parkinson’s was diagnosed.